Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-07-20
"What He endured, oh, who can tell.
To save our souls from death and helll"
ATLANTA'S PROSPERITY.
HOW PROHIBITION WORKS IN CITY OF
$4,000 SOULS.

From the Atlanta constitution, June I'D
The election at which Prohibition was
put on trial in this city is entitled to place
among great events. No election OF To-
cal nature was ever before held in city of
60, 600 people in which more was involved.
The changes proposed by it were so radical
as to be almost revolutionary. Over 100
business houses we're to be closed. Nearly
500 men were to be forced to give up a
was to be left with SAC, 900 less revenue.
Trade amounting annually to millions was
to be turned away from the city. Many
large business houses were to be left un-
rented. Of course, movement proposing
measures so radical met with the most
spirited and determined opposition. Many
of our best citizens regarded it with out
spoken disfavor.
1t was said that Prohibition in city so
large as this was impracticable, that it
would not prohibit, that the trade would be
injured, that taxes would be increased that
the stores in which the liquor business was
carried on would not be rented for other
purposes, that the same amount of whiskey
would be drunk with the law as without it,
the city would only miss the revenue, that it
would be death-blOw to Atlanta's prog
ress.
It has now been IS months since the elec-
ton, and 12 months since the law went in
to effect. We are prepared thus from OBJ
servation to note results.
Prohibition in this city does prohibit.
The law is observed as we'll as the law
against carrying concealed weapons, gamb
ling, theft, and other offenses of like char
acter If there had been as many people
in favor of carrying concealed weapons,
theft, gambling, ETC., as there were in IA
vor of the retail of ardent spirits 12 months
ago, law against these things would not
have been carried out as we'll as it was
against the liquor trade. In consideration
Of the small majority with which Prohibit
tion was carried, and the large number of
people who were opposed to seeing it pro-
hibit, the law has been marvelously well
observed.
| Prohibition has not injured the city fl
nancially. According to the Assessors
books, property in the city has increased
over So, 900, 600. Taxes have not been in
creased. Two streets in the city, Decatur
and Peters, were known as liquor streets.
It was hardly considered proper for a lady
to walk these streets without an escort
Now they are just as orderly as any in the
city. Property on them has advanced from
10 to 25 per cent. The-loss of $40, 900 rev.
enue consequent on closing the saloons has
tended in no degree to impede the city's
progress IN any direction. Large appro-
priations have been made to the water
works, the public schools, the Piedmont
Fair, and other improvements. The bust
ness men have raised $400, 900 to build the
Atlanta 6 Hawkinsville Railroad. The
number of city banks is to be increased to
five. The coming Of four new railroads
has been settled during the year. Fifteen
new stores containing house-furnish ing
goods have been started since Prohibition
went into effect. These are doing we'll.
More furniture has been sold to mechanics
and laboring men in the last IL months
than in any 12 months during the history
of the city. The manufacturing establish
ments of the city have received new life.
A glass factory has been built. A cotton
seed oil mill is being built worth 1926, 900.
All improvement companies with basis in
real estate have seen their stock doubled in
value since the election on Prohibition.
Stores in which the liquor trade was con-
Quoted are not vacant, but are now occu-
pied by other lines of trade. According to
the real estate men, more laborers and men
of limited means are buying lots than ever
before. Rents are more promptly paid
than formerly. More houses are rented by
the same number of families than hereto
fore. Before Prohibition, sometimes as
many as three families would live in one
house. The heads of those families now
not spending their money for drink are
each able to rent house, thus using three
instead of one. Workingmen who former
ly spend great part of their money for
liquor, now spend it in food and clothes
for their families. The retail grocery men
sell more goods and collect their bills bet
ter than ever before. Thus they are able
to settle more promptly with the wholesale
men.
A perceptible increase has been noticed
in the number of people who ride ION the
street cars. According to the coal dealers,
many people bought coal and stored it
away last winter, who had never been
known to do so before. Others who had
been accustomed to buying two or three
tons on time, this last winter bought seven
or eight tons and paid cash for it. A lead
ing proprietor Of a millinery store said that